2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Massachusetts
[Design & Applied Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 43 schools to find the best return on investment for design & applied arts students.
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2026 Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in design & applied arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Design & Applied Arts Schools
For return on investment in design & applied arts, no school beat Middlesex Community College Bedford this year. Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public school located in the suburb of Bedford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,098, while out-of-state students pay about $12,170. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $12,755. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $48,427. Set against $12,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bristol Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fall River. In-state tuition and fees average $5,832, compared with $10,776 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $9,482. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $37,897. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bunker Hill Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Bunker Hill Community College is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $6,168 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $51,782. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Massachusetts Bay Community College earned it the #4 place for design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,856, with out-of-state students paying around $10,800. Students borrow a median of $11,008 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Massachusetts Bay Community College earn a median of $44,553 early in their careers. Set against $11,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Massasoit Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in design & applied arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brockton. In-state tuition and fees average $5,376, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $10,894 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Massasoit Community College generally make around $42,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fitchburg State University earned the #6 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,346, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Fitchburg State University generally make around $29,191. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell placed #7 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $41,020. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #8 among the best values for design & applied arts. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. In-state tuition and fees average $15,612, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $29,660. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design came in at #9 for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,400, while out-of-state students pay about $43,400. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $24,706. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants.
Boston University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $49,254. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Lasell College earned the #11 position for value in design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Newton, Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,040 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $29,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Suffolk University placed #12 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $47,550. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $47,415. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Lesley University landed the #13 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,256. Typical student debt for design & applied arts graduates is $26,500. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $25,227. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $49,727. That is a strong return on a $28,250 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Wentworth Institute Of Technology placed #15 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the city of Boston, Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,884. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Wentworth Institute Of Technology generally make around $50,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Montserrat College Of Art placed #16 among the best values for design & applied arts. Located in the suburb of Beverly, Montserrat College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,690. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the design & applied arts program here. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Montserrat College Of Art generally make around $19,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Endicott College placed #17 among the best values for design & applied arts. Set in the suburb of Beverly, Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,650 in tuition and fees. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career design & applied arts graduates make about $39,271. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Endicott College admits about 71% of applicants.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute landed the #18 spot for design & applied arts value this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $60,765. Design & Applied Arts graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Worcester Polytechnic Institute generally make around $91,834. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Worcester Polytechnic Institute admits about 60% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
